After the Divine Liturgy, on November 9, 2025, in the Cathedral Hall of the Cathedral of Christ the Savior in Moscow, His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia led the plenary session of the XII Ecclesiastical Congress on Social Service.
With the blessing of His Holiness, the next Church-wide Congress on Social Service is being held on November 8-11 in Moscow. This is the largest forum of the Russian Orthodox Church in the field of charity. One of the main topics of the Congress is assistance to those who have returned from the front and their families. The forum participants will also discuss assistance to the homeless, addicts, people with disabilities, and family support. Special attention will be paid to the ministry of priests, sisters of mercy and church volunteers in hospitals and hospitals. 
The following persons took seats on the presidium of the plenary session: Archpriest Mikhail Potokin, Chairman of the Synodal Department for Church Charity and Social Service; A.Y. Kuznetsova, Deputy Chairman of the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation; E.P. Struzhak, Minister of the Government of Moscow, Head of the Department of Labor and Social Protection of the Population of Moscow; O.O. Salagai, State Secretary, Deputy Minister of Health of Russia; Director and chief physician of the St. Alexy Church Hospital A.Y. Zarov; Chairman of the Committee of Families of Soldiers of the Fatherland Y.A. Belekhova; Coordinator of assistance to those who returned from the front and their families of the Synodal Charity Department, Priest Evgeny Lishchenyuk; Head of the Social Ministry Department of the Synodal Charity Department, Deacon Igor Kulikov.
In total, more than 1,000 people are taking part in the Congress — heads of diocesan social departments, coordinators of major volunteer services, senior sisters of the sisterhoods of mercy, heads of leading charitable organizations, social workers, and senior government officials. 
After the opening speech by Archpriest Mikhail Potokin, the participants of the meeting were shown a video about the social service of the Russian Orthodox Church.
Then His Holiness Patriarch Kirill delivered a keynote address on various areas of the Church's social activities.
Concluding his speech, the Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church expressed gratitude to the participants of the Congress and to all those who perform works of mercy.
"I would like to thank all of you, those who are working for the benefit of others today: priests, doctors, nurses and, of course, our volunteers, employees of social church institutions. May the Lord strengthen your strength and help you in your responsible and important ministry," said His Holiness. — I wish all of you, the participants of the congress, fruitful work, boldness, courage, wisdom, and most importantly, that God's blessings be with you all in these labors. God bless you!"
At the end of the plenary session, in the Red Hall of the Cathedral of Christ the Saviour, His Holiness inspected the photo exhibition "The Church Helps," organized by the Synodal Department for Church Charity and Social Service. Archpriest Mikhail Potokin provided explanations to His Holiness.
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Today, the Russian Orthodox Church is one of the largest charity organizers in the country. The Russian Orthodox Church has hundreds of social initiatives, including shelters for pregnant women and mothers with children, humanitarian aid centers, almshouses (round-the-clock nursing homes for the elderly), and projects to help people with disabilities, addicts, and the homeless. More than 6,000 calls with various requests are received by the church hotline of the Synodal Department for Charity 8-800-70-70-222.
Since 2022, the Russian Orthodox Church has been providing assistance to victims of the armed conflict. The Patriarchal Humanitarian Mission coordinates this work. There are 12 church aid centers operating in the border areas and the conflict zone, which have processed over 340,000 requests. Over 4,000 tons of humanitarian aid have been transferred to the victims. Over 5,000 church volunteers traveled to Donbass to support civilians. More than 500 houses have been repaired by volunteers as part of the project to restore private housing for those in need in the conflict zone.
The Synodal Department for Charity has established a pastoral care service for those who returned from the front and their families. Since 2024, the dioceses have appointed coordinators who provide humanitarian and spiritual support to such families.